410678

Estimating the return to scale and elasticity of production among small-scale tomato producers in Kano and Kaduna States, Nigeria

Article

Last updated: 29 Mar 2025

Subjects

-

Tags

Agricultural economics and extension

Abstract

This research study focused on estimating the return to scale (RTS) and elasticity of production (EP) among small-scale tomato producers in Kano and Kaduna States of Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling plan was utilized to select 200 small-scale tomato producers. Primary data of cross-sectional sources were utilized based on a well-planned questionnaire. The data were evaluated using descriptive statistics, RTS, EP, and stochastic frontier production model. The results show that the mean age of tomato producers was 44 years (SD = 6.12). The tomato producers were small-scale growers with a mean farm size of 1.41 hectares. The coefficient of agrochemicals, fertilizer usage, seeds, farm size, and labour were positively and considerably different from zero in affecting the output of tomato growers. The coefficients of elasticity of production were estimated as follows, agrochemicals (0.1674), fertilizer usage (0.2316), farm size (0.1635), seeds (0.1206), and labour (0.1526) respectively. The input elasticities were inelastic for tomato farming; this means a 1% rise in each factor, while keeping all other stimulus constant will result to less than 1% rise in tomato output. The RTS was evaluated at 0.8357, this connotes deceasing RTS, the tomato producers are operating in stage 1 of the production surfaces which is the output of tomato can still be raised by using more of the factors. An increase in all the inputs by 1% raises tomato output by 0.8357 percent. The improved varieties of tomato seeds should be given to producers to increase output. Also, farm technologies such as machines, tractors, new equipment's should be given to farmers for farm mechanization and to increase the tomato output.

DOI

10.21608/svuijas.2025.345026.1420

Keywords

Return to scale, Elasticity of Production, Smallholder, Tomato production, Nigeria

Authors

First Name

Sunday Sambo

Last Name

MAILUMO

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Federal College of Forestry, Jos, Plateau State, NIGERIA.

Email

drmailumo247@gmail.com

City

Plateau State

Orcid

0000-0001-9109-1662

First Name

Olugbenga Omotayo

Last Name

ALABI

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Abuja, PMB 117 Gwagwalada-Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, NIGERIA.

Email

omotayoalabi@yahoo.com

City

-

Orcid

0000-0002-8395-9775

First Name

Nancy Agbenu

Last Name

OLISAKWE

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Department of Economics, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Jos, Plateau State, NIGERIA.

Email

ochonwennancy@gmail.com

City

Plateau State

Orcid

0009-0005-6699-8015

First Name

Ademu

Last Name

OCHENI

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Department of Agricultural-Economics, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State, NIGERIA

Email

ademuocheni@gmail.com

City

Benue State

Orcid

0009-0005-2160-6890

First Name

Ado

Last Name

GARBA

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, Faculty of Agriculture, Federal University Dutse, Jigawa State, NIGERIA.

Email

adogarbak@gmail.com

City

Jigawa State

Orcid

0000-0002-3897-7066

First Name

Adebisi Olateju

Last Name

OMOLE

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Abuja, PMB 117 Gwagwalada-Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, NIGERIA.

Email

tejuomole2@yahoo.com

City

Abuja

Orcid

0009-0000-6285-1829

Volume

7

Article Issue

1

Related Issue

53133

Issue Date

2025-01-01

Receive Date

2024-12-16

Publish Date

2025-01-01

Page Start

48

Page End

59

Print ISSN

2636-3801

Online ISSN

2636-381X

Link

https://svuijas.journals.ekb.eg/article_410678.html

Detail API

http://journals.ekb.eg?_action=service&article_code=410678

Order

410,678

Type

Original Article

Type Code

1,132

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

SVU-International Journal of Agricultural Sciences

Publication Link

https://svuijas.journals.ekb.eg/

MainTitle

Estimating the return to scale and elasticity of production among small-scale tomato producers in Kano and Kaduna States, Nigeria

Details

Type

Article

Created At

29 Mar 2025